Chinese government reveals Microsoft's Android patents

Microsoft, who has long licensed its patents to Android OEMs and takes a piece of a majority of Android devices made, has now had those mystery patents revealed by the Chinese government.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has revealed the 300 patents and applications held by Microsoft, following China's recent approval of their purchase of Nokia's handset business.

Among the list are 73 standard-essential patents, and another 127 that Microsoft claims are currently used in Android. Microsoft is said to be bringing in nearly $1 billion in licensing revenue from Android device makers.

Some of the list includes patents from Nortel, which were acquired as part of the Rockstar Consortium.